Periodic Report Summary 1 - SASJACKET (Self–Alerting Safety Jacket)
Project Context and Objectives:
The SASJacket project aims at the seamless integration and optimisation of an Personal Floatation Device (PFD) and Maritime Survivor Location Device (MSLD). This is not simply to add the two components together as they do integrate through kits and placement today, but rather the complete redesign to make a PFD that has all the capabilities of an MSLD built in and in a form that does not interfere with the user.
To achieve this, we need to consider the three key elements of an MSLD that need to be integrated into the PFD which are the Antennae, the communication electronics and the battery. The SASJacket project kicked off with a design review based on the initial design concepts by MRT for our partners University of Oviedo and University of Greenwich to evaluate and amend. On the antennae front, we evaluated the possibility of both the integrated inflation tube antennae and a possible planar antennae design from the University of Oviedo. Both of these concepts do not require any additional bulk or space in a current PFD design. They key will be performance of these two designs as the transmission range is important in a rescue.
The University of Greenwich would evaluate taking current PCB designs and evaluate ASICs and other potential small or flexible designs. They want to evaluate various state of the art alternatives such as electronics on fabric, but we are all cognisant of costs. The final solution needs to be affordable to businesses and users alike. We must therefore evaluate each of these alternates on a cost benefit analysis. We do need the size to be small to fit within the current PD without adding significant bulk or make the PFD uncomfortable to wear, a key aspects for people that work with PFDs during work shifts. An evaluation will be made once all solutions are presented and evaluated at the concept stage.
The battery solution was not addressed at the initial design review although we have considered evaluating sharing battery power with current PFD elements such as the light strobe and including solar and water powered components.
Two of our SME’s could not continue on the project due to financial constraints, and the Consortium as a whole was unable to find replacement participants, and therefore requested the termination of the project.
Project Results:
The SASJacket project kicked off with a design review based on the initial design concepts by MRT for our partners University of Oviedo and University of Greenwich to evaluate and amend. We evaluated the inflation tube antennae with a possible planar antennae design from the University of Oviedo. The University of Greenwich would evaluate taking current PCB designs and evaluate ASICs and other potential small or flexible designs. The results were not finalised due to the termination of the project.
Potential Impact:
Early termination of the project due to the exit of SMEs.
The SASJacket project aims at the seamless integration and optimisation of an Personal Floatation Device (PFD) and Maritime Survivor Location Device (MSLD). This is not simply to add the two components together as they do integrate through kits and placement today, but rather the complete redesign to make a PFD that has all the capabilities of an MSLD built in and in a form that does not interfere with the user.
To achieve this, we need to consider the three key elements of an MSLD that need to be integrated into the PFD which are the Antennae, the communication electronics and the battery. The SASJacket project kicked off with a design review based on the initial design concepts by MRT for our partners University of Oviedo and University of Greenwich to evaluate and amend. On the antennae front, we evaluated the possibility of both the integrated inflation tube antennae and a possible planar antennae design from the University of Oviedo. Both of these concepts do not require any additional bulk or space in a current PFD design. They key will be performance of these two designs as the transmission range is important in a rescue.
The University of Greenwich would evaluate taking current PCB designs and evaluate ASICs and other potential small or flexible designs. They want to evaluate various state of the art alternatives such as electronics on fabric, but we are all cognisant of costs. The final solution needs to be affordable to businesses and users alike. We must therefore evaluate each of these alternates on a cost benefit analysis. We do need the size to be small to fit within the current PD without adding significant bulk or make the PFD uncomfortable to wear, a key aspects for people that work with PFDs during work shifts. An evaluation will be made once all solutions are presented and evaluated at the concept stage.
The battery solution was not addressed at the initial design review although we have considered evaluating sharing battery power with current PFD elements such as the light strobe and including solar and water powered components.
Two of our SME’s could not continue on the project due to financial constraints, and the Consortium as a whole was unable to find replacement participants, and therefore requested the termination of the project.
Project Results:
The SASJacket project kicked off with a design review based on the initial design concepts by MRT for our partners University of Oviedo and University of Greenwich to evaluate and amend. We evaluated the inflation tube antennae with a possible planar antennae design from the University of Oviedo. The University of Greenwich would evaluate taking current PCB designs and evaluate ASICs and other potential small or flexible designs. The results were not finalised due to the termination of the project.
Potential Impact:
Early termination of the project due to the exit of SMEs.